Gun



Nov. 8, 1932. c. F. LE FEVER GUN Filed Oct. 14. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Nov. 8, 1932. c. F. L E FEVER GUN Filed oct. 14, 1929' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR idr Z esfelzfe/ Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE CHARLES F. LEFEVER, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DAISY MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN GUN Application filed October 14, 1929. Serial No. 399,634.

l and to engage the plunger shank with the sear- Figure 4 is a similar view showing the handle moved forward but not quite to its normal position and also' showing the trigger locking mechanism which remains effecting in this position of the handle;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are cross sections re spectively on lines 5, 6 6 and 7 7 of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the trigger locking lever;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the end of the plunger shank which is engaged byr the shank of the pump handle and the scar;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the air compressing plunger and its shank detached;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal section showing these4 members in engagement with each other;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the sheet metal blank from which the shank of the pump handle is formed;

Figure 13 is a. perspective view of a portion of this shank formed up from the blank;

Figure 14C is a sectional perspective view showing the manner of securing the guide for the handle;

Figure 15 is a vertical longitudinal section through the muzzle portion of the gun showing the manner of engaging the removable shooting and magazine barrel unit therewith;

Figure 16 is a perspective View oftheshooting and magazine barrel unit removed from the barrel;

Figure 17 is a cross section on line 17-17 of Figure 15 showing the manner of locking the shooting barrel in the gun. A c

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the plunger spring and abutment unit removed.

My improved gun is of the type known as pump gun where the compression of the spring is accomplished by the movement of a handle parallel to the barrel of the gun. Usually with such constructions there is in terposed between the handle and the spring compressing plunger a lever mechanism or some equivalent means forv increasing the power exerted upon the spring. .Such mechanism necessarily complicates the construction and increases the cost of manufacture but has heretofore been deemed necessary in order to avoid too great labor on the part of the operator iny compressing the spring. IVith the present invention I have dispensed with this intervening lever mechanism and actuate the plunger by the direct push of the handle. I have also lessened the labor of compression by substituting for the usual heavy gauge spring a relatively light spring and to obtain eiciency with this light spring I have reduced the i'rictional resistance to the movement of the plunger so that substantially the same degree of air compression is attained.

In detail, A is the false barrel or muzzle of the gun which is preferably formed integral with the frame portion B both being struck up from a single sheet metal blank. A portion C of the false barrel forms the air compression cylinder at the forward end of which is the piston abutment D. E is the plunger for engaging the barrel C, -F the plunger shank, G the spring and H a spring abutment. .Y

As has been stated the spring Gr is relatively light and is arranged to have one end engage the abutment H and the opposite end the plunger E. This plunger is so constructed as to reduce frictional resistance and to this end is provided with a head E smaller than the diameter of the air compression cylinder and a cup packing E2 formed of leather or other soft material. This rcup packing is secured to the head E by a washer E3 which has a press fit upon an integral shank E4 of the head E. -Preferably Vthe washer E3 is originally of dishshape and apertures to fit over the shank E4 which shank has-a flaring portionE5v adjacent to the headnE. Thus whenthecup washeris forced onto the shankA and over the flaring portion with suliicent pressure to straighten out the cup this will develop sufficient radial pressure to retain the washer in position and to clamp the cup E2 to the Vhead E. The head E" is further provided with the usual air tube E? which projects forward through the apertured abutment D and has the port E'I for the passage of the compressedairtherethrough from the cylinder. Y p

' The plunger shank F. is formed from a sheet metal blank which is fashioned into a spring. n c v f With ythe parts as thus far'described, in

forward lcylindrical or tubular'y portion F adapted to fit-'over the shank E4 of the head E and to be secured thereto by a cross pin F2 In rear of this cylindrical portion is a bifurcated portion F3 which terminates in an inverted Urshaped portion F4; Between the parallel sides of the portion E* is inserted an inverted U-shaped member F5 which vhas downwardly projecting spaced prongs F and Ff'which pass Vthrough apertures in the portion F4 and are riveted for retention therein.

'The' plunger shank -F passes :through an aperture in lthe spring abutment H with the downturned prongs F6 and F7 yarranged in rear of said abutment. To permit of this the' spring abutment H4 is assembled-with the plunger and its shankoutside the false barrel A and the assembled unit is then inserted in the barrel and frame. AThis spring abutment is also formed from a sheet metal blank which is formed into a cylindrical fitting and telescopicallyengaging the falsebarrel and frame of the gun. The rear portion vofthis cylinder is slotted at H Yon its under side to form guides for the downwardprojecting prongs F6 and F7 of the plunger shank.` Forward of this slotted portion the member H is pr-ovided with a bushing H2 welded'or otherwise rigidly secured theretowhich bushing forms the. direct 'abutment to the end o f the spring. VAThe rear end of the member H is notched at H3 to engage the triggerpivot I whichl latter lalso forms the anchor -for ,the abutment and receives f the thrust of the assembling the same the plunger shank F is inserted from the rear through the bushing H2 with the prongs F6 and F7 entering the slots H. The spring G is then sleeved upon the shank F after which the head E is secured to said shank by means of the pin F2. This forms an assembly which can be inserted from the rear through the frame of the gun and into the false barrel thereof until the plunger E bears aga-inst the plunger abutment D. The pin l is thon inserted to engage the notch H3 which will anchor the assembly in the frame.

The pump handle J is of cylindrical form groovedon its upper face to fit against a segment of the false barrel and to slide thereon. K is the shank of the handle which is formed up from Va sheet metal blank in a U-shaped cross section K provided at its forward end with a cylindrical portion K2 which extends through a'central -bore in the handle J. Be-

drawn rearward it will carry with it the plunger sha-nkF, plunger-'E and conipressthe spring G. To guide' the handle in this movement the shank K passes through an aperture in theV forward end of the frame B while at its forwardy Yend the handle is guided on a guide bar L."y The latter is inserted" through a loop bracket L att-ached to the under side of the barrelA and the bar L is then slid forward through the tubular portion K2 and into the U-shapedportion on the shank. T he bar L. is secured pin L2 fastening the same to the bracket L and t 1e arrangement is such that `this bracket holds the bar parallel to theibarrel so as to form a guide for 'the movement of the handle. l

The trigger M and sear N are formed up from sheet metal into substantially lil-shaped cross sections,V the 'sear being embraced by the trigger-and both members-being apertnred to engage the pivot pin l. The sear is yieldably pressed upward in a position where a notch N therein will engage the prong F7 of the plunger shank whenA the latter is moved rearward. "This yielding pressure is supplied by a spring N2 which engages a lug N3 on .the

sear and at its opposite end engages a lug on a lever O which is pivoted within Vthe frame spring, the Iconstruction being as follows:

At the forward end of the lever Othere isa notch O whichnorma-lly engages the laterally projecting lug K5 on the handle shank KQ' When thus engaged the lever O is rocked into a position lwhere its rear end is slightly raised against the tension of the spring N2. O2 is a laterally projecting lug at the rear end of the lever O which in the position of said lever just described will clear a rearwardly projecting lug M on the trigger M. However, whenever the lug K on the shank K is withdrawn from the notch O the lever O will be rocked by the tension of the spring T2 so that the lug O2 extends in rear of the lug M thereby locking the trigger from being drawn backward This position of the lever O will be main-- tained during the entire operation of drawing the handle J rearward and moving it forward again up to the position shown in Figure 4 where the handle is nearly to its forward position. The nal forward movement of the handle will cause the lug K5 to ride over a. cam O3 on the lever O thereby depressing the forward end of said lever ano raising the lug O2 out of engagement with the lug M or into the position shown in Figure 2. In this position the lug K5 again engages the notch 0 which will hold the handle J from accidental movement on the guide rod L.

The shooting barrel is detachably engageable with the false barrel A and is combined with a magazine, the construction being as follows:

The barrel P which is formed of straight tubing has its rear end fitting within the piston abutment D. Surrounding this barrel is a member Q formed from sheet metal having a segmental port-ion Q fitting about the barrel P and upwardly extendingr parallel flanges Q2 for forming a magazine. he rear end of the member Q has secured thereto the collar Q3 which bears against the forward face of the piston abutment. Adjacent to and forward of this collar the barrel P is apertured for the passage of shot from the magazine thereinto. At the forward end of the member Q there is attached a cam member R which telescopically engages the false barrel A and holds the barrel P in axial alignment therewith. The member has a Ilug Q4r laterally projecting from one side thereof and in a position to catch behind the segmental shank S of the sight S. This segment is welded or otherwise secured within the barrel and forms a shoulder which when engaged by the member Q4 will hold' the barrel P in a position with the collar Qs bearing against the piston abutment. Thus to engage the barrel and magazine with the false barrel the unit is first turned a partial revolutionfrom its normal position and is inserted in the false barrel. By then rotating it to the normal position the member Qt will be engaged with the member S and the magazine formed by the flanges Q2 will be an ranged on the upper side of the barrel i. To load the magazine, the cap R is turned a slight distance so as to register a port T in the barrel A with the magazine, thereby permitting the insert-ion of the shot. The cap is then turned in the reverse direction to its normal position which closes the aperture T.

In operation, to load the gun the handle J is drawn rearward upon the guide L which causes the lug K5 on the shank K to Vengage with the prong F6 of the piston shank F carrying this shank rearward and thereby compressing the spring G. At the completion of the rearward movement the prong F7 will engage with the notch N of the sear N thereby holding the spring in compressed position during the movement of the handle forward to its normal position. The trigger M is locked upon the initial movement of the handle J rearward by the rocking of the lever 0 and the arrangement of the lug O2 in rear of the lock M. This position is maintained in all positions of the handle until it again resumes its original forward position which, as previously described, unlocks the trigger by tilting the lever O. The gun may then be fired by pulling upon the trigger M which rocks the sear N downward disengaging the notch N from the prong F".

ltV will be noted that the handle J is arranged in close proximity to the barrel A and moves parallel to the axis of said barrel. Also, that the only point of bearing for the piston or plunger is the cup shaped packing E2. This will reduce friction so that with the light spring G the user may easily draw the handle backward'to compress the spring. vWhen the gun is fired the cup E2 is still the only member frictionally contacting the barrel or any stationary part so that the full force of the spring is exerted to compress the air. Thus I have accomplished with a greatly simplified mechanism functions which usually require a more complex structure.

One ofthe advantageous features of my improved construction is that the plunger, the spring and the spring abutment can be assembled in relation to each other to form a unit which is insertable within or detachable from the barrel or frame. Obviously itis much easier to assemble these parts outside of the barrel than in it and furthermore, units of this kind can be assembled in advance of the assembling of the other parts of the gun so as to beavailable for use at any time. To insert the unit in the gun it is only necessary to insert it from the rear end of the frame, moving it forward until the abutment H engages the barrel A and the plunger E engages the abutment D. Then when the trigger and sear are placed in position the pivot pin therefor is inserted which locks the member H from rearward movement.

lhat I claim as my invention is:

l. Ina gun, the combination with a false barrel and a frame integral therewith, said false barrelV having an air compression cylin-` der formed therein with a piston abutment at the forward end'of saidcylinder, of vaV` plunger spring and abutment unit insertable into saidframe and false barrel from` the rear end thereof, a trigger, a sear and avpivot for said trigger and. sear extending through said frame and forming an` anchor for said spring abutment.

2; In a gun, the combination with a false barrel and an inverted U-shaped frame formed integral therewith, said false barrel having an air compression cylinder formed in a portion thereof with a piston abutment at the forward end, `of-a plunger spring and abutment unit .comprising acylindrical abutment member having itsforward end adapted to telescopically-engage the false barrel with its rear portion engaging said frame and slotted on'its under side, a plunger shank extending through said kcylindrical abutment having a downwardly extending portion lengaging said longitudinal slot, a spring sleeved upon said shank'between said plunger and said abutment, said unit being insertablel through the rear end of said frame, a trigger, a sear and a pivot for said trigger and Sear passing through said frame and also constituting an anchor for said abutment.

3. In an air gun, the combination with an air cylinder, of a plunger therefor comprising a headed member having a tapered Shank, a cup shaped packing sleeved upon said shank and bearing against said headed member and a washer pressed on said tapered shank to be fixed thereon, said washer bearing against said cupped packing and retaining the same upon said headed member.

4. In an air gun, the combination with an air cylinder,`of a plunger therefor comprising a headed member having a short shank withy a taperedV portion adjacent to the head, a cupped washer sleeved upon said shank with its Vcupped flange overlapping said head, a

. washer pressed upon said shank to be fixed upon the tapered portion thereof and to re- 1 tain said packing inposition and `atubular shank engaging said short shank and eX- tending rearward therefrom.,

5. In an air gun,'the combination with an air cylinder, of a plunger therefor comprising a headedV member with a short shank, a cuppedwasher sleever upon said shank with the cup flange overlapping the headed portion, a washer pressed upon said shank to retain said cuppedpacking thereon, a shank formed from a sheet metal blank having a cylindrical forward portion for engaging said short shank and being coupled therewith, the rear end of said sheet metal shank having a portion of inverted--U-sha'ped cross section and an inverted Ushaped.,member arranged in the longitudinal plane of said shank andV embraced by the U-shaped portion thereof, said last mentioned U-shaped member being provided with laterally extending" lugs engaging apertures in the opposite sides igssazseri 6. lIn a gun, the combination with a frame anda false barrel having an air cylinder formed therein, a plunger in said cylinder, a spring and a spring abutment,.of a handle slidable upon said barrel, a hollow shank extending rearward from said handle and into said frame to engage said plunger, a guide bar for said handle extending axially therethrough and into said hollow shank and a bracket on said vfalse barrel provided` with a loop bearing for .engaging said guide bar whereby the latter may be inserted therethrough endwise to engage said handle and hollow shank.

7. In a gun, the combination with a frame, a false barrelfhaving an air cylinder therein, a plunger in said cylinder, a plunger shank, a spring sleeved upon said plunger shank, a spring abutment'for said spring, a handle slidable upon said barrel, a handle shank extending into said frame into engagement with said plunger shank to actuate the same rearwardly, a lug depending from said plunger shank for engaging said handle shank, a trigger and a Sear pivotally mounted in said frame, a lever pivoted in said frame adapted in one position to engage said trigger so as to lock the same from movement, a lug on said handle sha-nk forengaging said lever to adjust the same into a position for releasing said tiigger,=said lug being withdrawn from said lever during the movement of said handle 'to retract said plunger and to compress said spring whereby said trigger will be locked until the return of said handle.

8. In a gun, the combination with a false barrel and a frame, a'plunger within said false barrel, a'plunger shank, a Spring for said plunger, a handle slidable on said false barrel, a handle shank extendingl into said frame toengage said plunger shank and to actuate the same in the direction to compress said spring, said handle shank being formed of a sheet metal blankl fashionedinto a U- shaped cross section and provided at its inner end with a laterally extending lug for cngagement with said plunger shank, a guide for said handle extending axially through the same and into said U-shaped shank, and a bracket on said false barrel having a loop bearing for said guide permitting of inserting the same therethrough into engagement with said handle and to then guide said handle in its movement.

l?. In an air gun, the combination with a false barrel having a piston abutment therein,'of a combined shooting barrel and magazine unit .insertable in said false barrel, saidV unit comprising a tube for forming the shoot# ing barrel with a rear portion thereof engaging an aperture in said pistonabutment, a sheet metal member provided with Va segmental portion telescopically engaging with said of the shankvand' riveted forl retention theretube and secured thereto, said member being also provided With parallel spaced flanges to form a trough for receiving the projectiles, a collar upon said sheet metal member adapted to engage said piston abutment, a cap at the opposite end of said sheet metal member for engaging the muzzle end of said false barrel and means for locking said cap from disengagement from said false barrel on a partial rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES F. LEFEVER. 

